Gaurav Gupta, co-founder of online food delivery platform Zomato and a key figure in the run-up to the company’s IPO in July, has resigned.

In an email sent to staff at Zomato, Gupta — who was the head of supply — said he will be starting a new chapter after spending six years at the company.

Gupta’s exit comes days after Zomato decided to stop its grocery delivery service from September 17, mainly due to gaps in order fulfilment, leading to poor customer experience.

“I am taking a new turn in my life and will be starting a new chapter, taking a lot from this defining chapter of my life — the last 6 years at Zomato. We have a great team now to take Zomato forward, and it’s time for me to take an alternate path in my journey,” Gupta said.

The co-founder said he couldn’t have asked for more and is grateful for all the experiences and thankful to all the folks around him for helping him become a much better person.

“I am in love with Zomato and will always be. Came in 6 years back not knowing what this would turn out to be. And what a mind-blowing and amazing journey this has been. Feel proud of where we are today, what we have overcome to get here and feel even more proud of what we will achieve in the future,” Gupta said in the mail posted on the blog of the company.

He also thanked the company's founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal for making him a part of the journey.

“Thank you Deepi for making me a part of this journey. I will always cherish the amazing times we have had together. I have learnt a lot from you all along and I know in my heart that you will take Zomato to heights that most cannot even imagine,” Gupta said.

Replying to the mail, Deepinder Goyal thanked him for his efforts in helping in the company’s journey.

The online food delivery platform had announced on Sunday its decision to stop its grocery delivery service, marking its exit from the segment for the second time since last year. The company had entered the segment during the lockdown on account of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, but exited the business once its food delivery business recovered.

The company said it believes that its investment in Grofers will generate better outcomes for its shareholders than in-house grocery efforts.